help needed-I can't get wing trim strip to clip into place

Don't know what I'm doing wrong here, but when I bought my cab, the black and chrome strip off the front wing was in the back of the car and the clips were in place on the wing.
I tried refitting it onto the original clips which were still intact, but failed.
I went to the dealer and bought a bag of 25 clips (to allow for breakages) and have just failed to refit the strip again.
I fitted the clips into the strip,but they wouldn't engage fully into the holes in the wing.
I tried again aftre removing the little red rubber rings on the back of the clips in case the thickness of the paint (the car was resprayed) was the problem but still no luck.
I then fitted the clips to the wing first and tried attaching the strip with them in place, but they just don't hold.
Is it possible the car has an aftermarket replacement wing fited with incorrect size holes or am I just missing a trick?
It's only a small detail in the big picture, but it's frying my head.
PLEASE HELP!!!

Are you inserting the small plastic 'spreader' into the centre of the clip once you attach it to the wing?

Cero said

Are you inserting the small plastic 'spreader' into the centre of the clip once you attach it to the wing?

So THAT'S the "useless" plastic protrusion on the back of the clip that I snipped off!
Doh!

yea put them into the holes in the wing first and clip the trim on

Went out and did just that and discovered the wing is somewhat out of shape!
It appears narrower than the other one and doesn't cover the tyre. Are GTI wings wider than the standard items or has someone done a crappy repair?
There is no structural or strut damage to the car whatsoever but the o/s wheel appears to "stick out" from under the wing despite having the same size tyre, offset and spacer as the n/s one.
I live and learn.
Wheel off and measuring tape (and maybe porta power) out in the morning.
Ah the joys of being self-employed in a recession. Work rarely gets in the way of enjoyment at the moment

Don't these have a push in centre pin?

Push the pin so it pokes out. Put clip in place and push the pin in to expand the fixing behind..

As above

Yeah, I found that out after I snipped them off the first five I tried to fit.
Anyway, trim now fitted but I may have to replace the wing